The Butcher's Bill ETO (id:#62499)

(ASLUG Singles ID: ASLUG20)   [next]   [previous]

Bethune, France 1940-05-24 (9 others)

Overview:

With the failure of the Allied counterattack at Arras three days previously, the German steamroller gathered momentum across France. The SS Totenkopf Division, led by Theodor Eicke, was transferred to Panzer Korps XVI, to which fell the task of spearheading the armored drive to crush the Allied pocket in the north. Following light contact of 22nd of May, a full scale attack across the line of the La Bassee Canal was planned to prevent the British from digging in there. The Totenkopf Division was assigned the limited objective of advancing to Bethune, a small town lying across the canal, and probing for a suitable place to cross. Eicke moved his artillery up for support and ordered his engineers to build a pontoon bridge. On the morning of May 24th, with pistol in hand, Eicke led the attack.

Defender: British (Mixed Elements 2nd, 44th, and 48th Division)  

Errata (source)